Election Commission validates Tasnim Zara’s nomination, allowing independent run in Dhaka-9 constituency

PNN News Desk

The Election Commission (EC) has validated the nomination of Tasnim Zara as an independent candidate from Dhaka-9 for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. After hearing the appeal against the cancellation of her nomination, the EC reinstated her candidacy on Saturday morning.

Earlier, she appealed to the EC against the Returning Officer’s decision. During the appeal hearing, the commission reviewed her nomination papers and declared them valid.

After regaining her candidacy, Tasnim Zara spoke to journalists at the EC office, stating that her appeal had been accepted and she can now contest as an independent candidate. She described this process as an exceptional experience in her personal and political life.

She expressed gratitude to all those who supported her with encouragement and prayers over the past few days and mentioned that interactions with ordinary people, hearing their concerns and struggles, strengthened her resolve in the election.

Tasnim Zara said she will apply to the Election Commission for her preferred election symbol, the football mark. She also expressed gratitude to the commission for restoring her candidacy. Previously, she served as Senior Joint Secretary General of the NCP. Disagreements over forming alliances with Jamaat-e-Islami led her to leave the party, after which she filed her nomination as an independent candidate.

On January 3, after verifying her nomination papers, the Returning Officer had cancelled her nomination due to two of her proposers and supporters not being registered voters in the constituency. However, as she had the right to appeal, she approached the Election Commission. The EC has reported that a total of 645 appeals against Returning Officers’ decisions have been filed. These hearings are being conducted daily from 10 am to 5 pm at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, and will continue until January 18. On Saturday, appeals numbered 1 to 70 were heard, with the remaining scheduled for the following days.